Forums » Suggestions
Data collection and re-mix
If information, like products and prices say, were saved by the client in simple text files, players could re-mix and share the information.
For example, you could dock at Dau L-10 and see all the products and prices, and after you log out there would be a file called "Dau-L-10-200702181400.dat" that you could share with friends or your guild.
Having a simple file format means people could create websites that process the data into new sorts of listing/analysis/sharing systems. They could also remove products, or deliberately change a price to a higher or lower one before sharing the file. People would have to develop trust systems to decide which files are good. Maybe pay (credits) for access to a different guilds information.
There are many types of data this could be applied to: Mineral composition of asteroids, Bots in a system, Ships/Add-ons available, the price and availability of everything, the list of kills/deaths. The last one would probably be very popular for Guilds and Nation war enthusiasts.
With little effort from Guild Software, the players could make some interesting and unexpected things. Plus, I think this would really help get the players into relationships, visiting guild websites, sending each other emails, etc... Finally, Guild could turn off the whole thing, or any part of it, if it was causing trouble by just cutting of the flow of information.
For example, you could dock at Dau L-10 and see all the products and prices, and after you log out there would be a file called "Dau-L-10-200702181400.dat" that you could share with friends or your guild.
Having a simple file format means people could create websites that process the data into new sorts of listing/analysis/sharing systems. They could also remove products, or deliberately change a price to a higher or lower one before sharing the file. People would have to develop trust systems to decide which files are good. Maybe pay (credits) for access to a different guilds information.
There are many types of data this could be applied to: Mineral composition of asteroids, Bots in a system, Ships/Add-ons available, the price and availability of everything, the list of kills/deaths. The last one would probably be very popular for Guilds and Nation war enthusiasts.
With little effort from Guild Software, the players could make some interesting and unexpected things. Plus, I think this would really help get the players into relationships, visiting guild websites, sending each other emails, etc... Finally, Guild could turn off the whole thing, or any part of it, if it was causing trouble by just cutting of the flow of information.
1) Such databases already exist, albeit without Guild Software's help.
2) Not too many owners of said databases want to just hand out their hard earned info.
2) Not too many owners of said databases want to just hand out their hard earned info.
I really love this idea. This would streamline the database building process immensely. Txt file at each docking, much like a screen-dump or .errors log.
As moldy said all that is possible already. I'm currently (well, for half a year already) working on an open project which might be ready in 1 month.
...Unless I beta test it... :D